Be sure to clear your datebooks for a very important evening, the 24th Annual Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Nashville Equality Dinner on March 2, 2019. Making its return to the Renaissance Hotel, the 2019 dinner promises to be an evening full of fun, entertainment and a chance to see positive change in our nation. Last year, the HRC Nashville Equality Dinner took home more than twenty awards including: Dinner of the Year, Auction of the Year, and Best Corporate Growth.

Eric Patton, who chairs the dinner committee alongside Katie Nipper and Brittney Reynolds, is very enthusiastic about the upcoming dinner saying, “Being able to raise money for the fight nationally is very important. Our work here is so vital, because the money raised goes toward local and national HRC efforts.” The Nashville Equality Dinner is one of the most successful fundraisers for the LGBT+ community in the entire state of Tennessee.

The HRC’s commitment and support of candidates like Senators Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, who recently secured their Senate seats, was made possible because of the financial contributions and support of events like the annual Equality Dinner.

Locally, the HRC Nashville is very proud of the effort the small-but-mighty band of committee members played in former Nashville Mayor, Karl Dean’s bid for Governor. “(We’re) very proud of the time and dedication taken by our committee to really get out and show support for Karl Dean in a contested race. More than 414 work hours were given by volunteers and committee members over a six-week period.”

Additionally, according to Karl Dean’s campaign, HRC Nashville put in more hours than any organization that endorsed him in the race.

There is no rest for the Nashville Chapter of the Human Rights Campaign. The Equality Act is a major piece of legislation that the organization hopes will make it through both the house and senate. The Equality Act is so important because it would protect our LGBT+ community from discrimination. It would also add sexual orientation and gender identity to those items protected from discrimination in the workforce. Locally, they’ll also be working on fighting for your rights in the Tennessee State Legislature with their partners at Tennessee Equality Project.

In addition to recognizing and honoring individuals who are an integral part of continuing the fight for equality, the Equality dinner is a major source of fundraising to ensure the HRC is able to continue making changes at the federal level. These changes are important to ensure all individuals are afforded the protections granted to all citizens.

The Equality dinner promises to be one for the record books and the Renaissance Hotel is proud to be hosting again this year in their newly renovated space. Please make plans to attend the 24th Annual Equality Dinner – March 2, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. at the Renaissance Hotel. Tickets may be purchased at hrc.org/boxoffice.